Massachusetts State College University Requirements

The admissions standards for the state universities (Salem State, Framingham, Fitchburg, Westfield, Bridgewater, MCLA, Worcester) and the University of Massachusetts system (Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth, Lowell) emphasize a strong academic high school background so that students enter college ready to learn. These standards represent minimum requirements; meeting them does not guarantee admission, since campus officials consider a wide range of factors in admissions decisions. Students shall have fulfilled all requirements for the high school diploma or its equivalent upon enrollment.

It is important to note that admissions standards for the state’s community colleges differ. Community colleges may admit any high school graduate or GED recipient.

SAT SCORES ARE CRITICAL TO ADMISSIONS DECISIONS AND ALL SOPHOMORES OPEN A COLLEGE BOARD ACCOUNT AT NE AND SIGN UP FOR THE QUESTION OF THE DAY AND FREE PRACTICE TESTS ONLINE.

Freshman ApplicantsThe new admissions standards for freshmen applicants have two main parts:

16 required academic courses.

A minimum required grade point average (GPA) earned in college preparatory courses completed at the time of application.

Applicants must also submit an SAT or ACT score – Use Kuder as guide.

Sixteen college preparatory courses distributed as follows are required. (A course is equivalent to one full school year of study. Courses count toward the distribution only if passed.)

Electives 2 courses (from the above subjects or from the Arts & Humanities or Computer Sciences

Vocational-technical students must complete 16 college preparatory courses, distributed in the same manner and with the same minimum grade point averages required of other high school graduates, with the following exceptions:

Two vocational-technical courses may be used to fulfill the two required electives.

Vocational-technical high school graduates who do not complete the two required college preparatory foreign language courses must complete an additional elective college preparatory course for a total of three such courses, and satisfy one of the following options:

Complete at least one Carnegie unit of foreign language

Complete a fourth Carnegie unit of math or science (which need not be a lab course)

Complete one Carnegie unit of computer science. Note: A Carnegie unit represents a full academic year of study or its equivalent in a specific subject.

This requirement will remain in effect until the Department of Education (DOE) implements its requirements regarding foreign language study for vocational-technical students. At that time, vocational-technical applicants for admission to UMASS and the state colleges will be required to meet DOE requirements for foreign language study.

NO APPLICANT WITH A HIGH SCHOOL GPA BELOW 2.00 MAY BE ADMITTED TO A STATE COLLEGE OR UNIVERISTY CAMPUSEach state college or UMASS campus to which a student applies will re-calculate the GPA for purposes of applying the admissions standards.Computer software for use in calculating weighted GPA is available on-line via the Board of Higher Education website www.mass.edu

Minimum Required Grade Point Average (GPA)

The GPA must be achieved based on all college preparatory courses completed at the time of application and should be weighted for accelerated (Honors or Advanced Placement) courses. Effective Fall 2001 the required minimum weighted high school GPA is 3.0 for the four-year public campuses.

Effective Date

State College GPA

University GPA

Fall 2001

3.00

3.0

How to Convert Your GPA to a 4.0 Scale

Colleges report GPA (grade point average) on a 4.0 scale. The top grade is an A, which equals 4.0. This is the standard scale at most colleges, and many high schools use it.

If your high school uses a different or weighted system, you need to convert your GPA to a 4.0 scale for this tool. Talk to your school counselor or get a rough conversion by substituting these values: